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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 3, lines 7–9 · Giver of sleep, driver of horses
3.7
The Orphic Hymns 3.7 · Giver of sleep, driver of horses
Night drives across the sky, half of the earth and half of heaven, playing chase through the air.
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ὑπνοδότειρα1
hypnodóteira
giver of sleep
, φίλη2
phílē
friend
πάντων3
pántōn
of all
, ἐλάσιππε4
elásippe
driver of horses
, νυχαυγές5
nychaugés
shining by night
, ἡμιτελές6
hēmitelés
half-complete
, χθονίη7
chthoníē
of the earth
, ἠδʼ8
ēd’
and
αὐτή9
autḗ
you
πάλιν10
pálin
again
οὐρανίη11
ouraníē
of the sky
, ἐγκυκλίη12
enkyklíē
circling
, παίκτειρα13
paíkteira
who playsplaymate
διώγμασιν14
diṓgmasin
at chases
ἠεροφοίτοις15
ēerophoítois
through the airair-roaming
, giver of sleep, friend of all, driver of horses, shining by night, half-complete, of the earth, and you again of the sky, circling, who plays at chases through the air,
giver of sleep, friend of all, driver of horses, shining by night, half-complete, of the earth, and you again of the sky, circling, who plays at chases through the air,
Interpretation
giver of sleep, friend of all, driver of horses, shining by night, half-complete, of the earth and then of the sky, circling round, who plays at chasing through the air,
Night drives a chariot, like the Sun, but across the dark half of the sky. Hēmitelēs, "half-complete," is a strange title, and the next words explain it: she is half of the earth and half of the heaven, and only half of each day belongs to her. As she circles, she plays at a chase with the light, which the next lines will describe.
3.10
The Orphic Hymns 3.10 · Necessity rules all things
Night sends the daylight down below and then flees into Hades herself.
· · ·
you who send away the light down to the world below, and in turn flee into Hades; for dread Necessity rules all things.